We are continuing our northern migration. After a 6 hour sail from Pearl Beach to Swansea on Friday, we had a big day on Saturday: not only did we spend the whole day in shorts and Tshirts, but for the first time ever, we made our own water! Last week Sue, our good NSW Postie had brought with her the bits and pieces we had ordered along the way, including our new inverter to run the watermaker.
We assembled the H20, then when ready we flicked the power switch as we held our breath… and it worked! It took a while to get set up, partly because we were double checking everything with so many pipes and connectors. But once all set, we made 120 litres in two hours. It is a bit of a rigmarole as being a mobile unit you have to set it up and pack it away afterwards, but we guess it will get easier as we learn the steps. Our batteries did go down a bit as we expected (down 2 out of 10 units on our gauge), but they did not take long to recover. The trick is to pick a reasonably sunny or windy day so you put in 25 to 30 amps an hour, and within two hours they were back to full charge. All in all we are happy: independence from town water at last, and we did not blow our money!
Arrival at Swansea
While in Swansea we were on a courtesy mooring, just before the bridge that lifts up by arrangement to give access to Lake Macquarie. The moorings are really handy to town, with a small floating jetty to leave the dinghy at, so we did a few chores – laundry and reprovisioning – but did not bother to go into the lake, being there for just a couple of days only.
Sunday we had a slow sail to Port Stephens under spinnaker (4 to 6 knots), intending to explore there while the northerlies blow. We have stopped at Port Stephens a few times, but never long enough to go right in. Port Stephens is larger in area than Sydney Harbour, so there is plenty to discover!
We are relaxing and getting into a rhythm. It still has not sunk in that we are retired and this is our life now. It feels like we are on holidays, only we don’t have a particular destination in mind. At least we are enjoying the journey now with the warmer weather. Even Bengie seems happier: doing deck patrols, unphased by dinghy rides, keen to go ‘walkies’, and spending less time snoozing, well a little less! She is an expert at following the sun.
New snooze spot as we sail along!
It is late afternoon, the sun is streaming into the cabin, we have music playing, the boat is doing its usual change of tide dance, and it all feels pretty good.
Here is a gallery of photos taken since leaving Pearl Beach.
Sv-Anui 
All coming together beautifully. After having so much to do to make the transition, all the planning, packing etc is paying off. Enjoy the warmth, the new water and, of course, the wind blowing in the right direction.
It took nearly two months but it feels like we’ve turned the corner! Exploring Port Stephens today, moving a long way in – very peaceful!
Like your water unit, good bit of gear! hey, you could motor up into the Myall lakes as well perhaps?
Don’t think so, low bridges and power cables. We have a tall mast!
How interesting to produce your own water! …You guys are so cool! Enjoy yourselves while you have a warmer weather., don’t make it all work and no fun! Remember that you are retired now. 🙂
Exactly HJ – we are slowing the pace down and exploring! It makes a big difference to how we feel!
It’s great in the warmer climes, eh ! I am close-hauled coming south from Hammo into a SEaster.
Bummer – hope it’s not too strong!
No, good ‘Take it Easy’ weather; 12-14kts, occasional whitecaps
Ah! coining a new term😊! Would be good if we could spend an evening together at anchor! Dinner and a wine!
Hooray, water on top, great inverter doing a good job. Enjoy Port Stevens
Thanks Sue for being the postie!
That’s great idea ❤️ 😜
Wow, how enterprising
Anything to be able to stay out in the wilderness rather than have to constantly come back to port!
Indeed!
Savoring your halcyon days! Great to hear. Photos stunning as always.
How does the H20 maker work? Just makes a cool surface for water to condense on? Expands the air until it cools enough for condensation? Both?
Hi Craig – yes enjoying life at last after two months of hard yakka.
The H20 works via reverse osmosis. Inside the metal frame is an electric motor driving a high pressure pump. Salt water is pushed through a membrane under pressure (the long tube you see in the photo). Brine and solids stay on one side of the membrane and fresh, demineralised water comes out the other.
I must say you are starting to sound really relaxed and I can hear the joy in your writing. That is fantastic.
Yes we feel like we have turned the corner. It makes a huge difference to be in warmer climes and with the northerlies stopping our progress northward, we are actually enjoying just slowing down and exploring. We have given up on the idea of getting to the reef and instead we are catching up with friends along the way without rushing.